Two women fined for defrauding St Albans Cathedral visitors

Two women have been fined for defrauding visitors as they walked through St Albans Cathedral.

Sofica Panaghita, 25, and Mirela Dumtiru, 22, took money from a number of people visiting the cathedral on Friday.

Staff became suspicious and alerted the council CCTV control room that two women were collecting money and personal details from people attending the cathedral and that their behaviour appeared suspicious.

The women, of no fixed abode, admitted fraud and were fined £100 at Hatfield Remand Court.

They were also ordered to pay £85 in costs.

Councillor Beric Read said: "This is a great example of how the police and Council CCTV service protects the interests of both visitors and residents of St Albans."